DU Principal's Unconventional Cooling Method Sparks Student Protest

Apr, 17 2025

Unusual Cooling Methods in Lakshmibai College: Tradition Meets Modernity

Imagine being a student, sitting in a stifling classroom with outdated fans and stuffy air, struggling to focus on lessons. Now imagine being told that cow dung, yes, the same stuff many associate with rural India, was going to help cool your room down. That's exactly what's happening at Lakshmibai College under the guidance of their principal, Pratyush Vatsala.

In a move that has generated as much controversy as discussion, Vatsala decided to use a cow dung mixture on the walls of Block C classrooms. This effort is part of a project to explore 'Study of Heat Stress Control by Using Traditional Indian Knowledge.' According to the principal, the decision aligns with practices aimed at sustainability. But why cow dung? Traditional Indian homes have long used natural materials like cow dung and mud to create cool, insulated environments. Given the college's aging infrastructure and lack of cooling facilities, this might have seemed like a creative solution.

The idea, albeit unconventional, was shared via a WhatsApp video with the faculty. The video aimed to shed light on the potential of age-old techniques in modern settings. But the reception was less than warm. Critics, both academic and lay, have been vocal about the measure, labeling it as both impractical and misguided in the context of college infrastructure needs.

A Stirring Reaction from Students and Faculty

What's life without some drama, right? Well, this experiment certainly did not lack in that department. From the absence of sufficient fans and ventilation to non-functioning washrooms, Block C is no stranger to maintenance woes. Many staff and faculty members were quick to voice their displeasure. Neelam from the Academic Council, along with professors like Pankaj Garg, argued that instead of making such symbolic overtures, the actual systemic issues should take precedence.

Students weren't too thrilled either. Under the leadership of the Delhi University Students' Union's president, Ronak Khatri, they took their frustration up a notch. In a protest move, they smeared cow dung on the principal's office and the washrooms, effectively echoing the principal's initial action but in retaliation.

Even the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, Yogesh Singh had to intervene. Singh condemned both Vatsala's experimental methods and the students' response, advising that future attempts fall under controlled scientific investigation rather than public displays.

In an interesting twist, the situation highlighted a more significant, lingering issue: the college's neglect in terms of infrastructure. NSUI president Varun Choudhary weighed in on this, suggesting that energy could be better spent on improving more pressing matters—scholarships and educational quality, to name a couple.

The entire scenario raises questions around academic priorities, sustainable practices, and student welfare. Maybe cow dung isn't the magic bullet for overheating classrooms, but this incident sure got people talking about the need for better infrastructure. Who knew a traditional cooling method could stir up such a storm?